THYATIRA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GRAVEYARD Abstracted by Mary Bondurant Warren Published in "Carolina Genealogist" Summer 1972 Placed on the WWW by David W. Morgan with permission Received: from LOCALNAME (hd61-137.hil.compuserve.com [199.174.241.137]) by m4.sprynet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id QAA29704 for ; Wed, 23 Sep 1998 16:11:39 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: <3609AA52.29D5@sprynet.com> Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 19:11:30 -0700 From: Mary Bondurant Warren Reply-To: trefaerie@sprynet.com Organization: Bondurant Family Association X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0Gold (Win95; U; 16bit) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: dmorgan@efn.org Subject: Thyatira Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit David, permission granted to put Thyatira cemetery inscriptions on WWW. Also refer the reader to CAROLINA CRADLE, which has much more on the people who founded the church, and good references to their earlier homes and church affiliations in the PA-MD area. Mary B. Warren The Carolina Genealogist Summer, 1972 No. 11 Pages 1-10 County Records Rowan County Cemeteries Thyatira Presbyterian Church Millbridge, N.C. This Presbyterian "mother church" of the Yadkin River basin was formed from "Cathy's Meeting House" established by some of the earliest settlers of Rowan County, N.C. Today the handsome brick building built at the end of the last century stands in good repair, with an active congregation. The extensive cemetery is well kept, and lies downhill, and to the north and northeast of the church building. After examining the cemetery, and knowing that the present building is not the original, it is my opinion that the original building probably stood on the south end of the then burial yard, in a region now taken up by graves. There appears to be a line of demarcation between burial dates showing where a fence, or perhaps just the edge of the burial yard once was. This line runs east-west intersecting the two existing native stone walls; on this hypothetical line is now planted a group of crape myrtle trees, possibly in the site of the old church. Following this line of reasoning, we have made our cemetery survey encompass first this oldest section of the churchyard. All rows have been surveyed beginning on this hypothetical line and working northward along the row, returning to the line for each new row. Rows have been read beginning on the western wall of the cemetery and progressing row by row eastward to the eastern rock wall. Where there are short rows, these have been noted. In the North Carolina State Archives at Raleigh, N.C., is a typescript, bound into a book of cemetery surveys, which is said to have been a survey of the Thyatira Churchyard. We have checked grave entries of this typescript against the actual tombstones in the churchyard, and found that it contains many omissions, as well as some errors. SHORT ROW AGAINST WESTERN WALL John F. Sechler b. 6-20-1821, d. 7-28-1862, son of Henry & Catherine Sechler, age 41 years 1 month 8 days. Died of wounds received at Malvern Hill [C.S.A.] Henry Sechler, b. 1-30-1787, d. 10-2-1875, aged 88 years 8 mos. 1 day. and wife Catherine Sechler, b. 4-6-1792, d. 12-13-1856, daughter of John and Mary Fink Amelia Sechler, b. 4-1-1832, d. 11-29-1890, age 58 years 7 mos. 28 days Elizabeth Sechler, b. 9-15-1823, d. 2-16-1913, age 89 years, 5 mos. 1 day Dovie A. C. Freeze, b. 12-18-1834, d. 9-22-1913, age 78 years 9 mos. 4 days Sarah E. Sechler, b. 11-6-1829, d. 5-8-1920, age 90 years 6 mos. 2 days WESTERNMOST FULL ROW H. Cooper Harrison, b. 1-1-1881, d. 2-27-1906, son of J.M. & F. H. Harrison Willie P. Harrison, b. 12-6-1877, d. 6-2-1890, age 12 years 5 mos. 15 days, son of J.M. & F.H. Harrison Jane L. Harrison, b. 3-23-1862, d. 6-21-1864, dau. J.M. & F.H. Harrison Mary Davis Harrison, b. 7-28-1863, d. 2-3-1865, dau. J.M. & F.H. Harrison Johnny Kerr Harrison, b. 7-10-1865, d. 6-25-1875, son of J.M. & F.H. Harrison Selena Harrison, b. 6-10-1867, d. 9-1-1883, dau. of J.M. & F.H. Harrison D. S. Cowan, b. 6-16-1836, d. 2-2-1884, age 47 years 7 mos. 16 days C. A. Carrigan, b. 6-15-1835, d. 10-29-1910, and J. F. Carrigan, b. 12-3-1829, d 6-17-1904, age 74 years 6 mos. 14 days James L. Carrigan [no birth date], d. 8-14-1877, son of J.F. & C.F. Carrigan, age 11 years 7 mos. 8 days Jane L. Patterson, d. 2-20-1874 F. E. Patterson, d. 2-20-1874, age 65 years 6 mos. 9 days D. H. Patterson, d. 6-5-1873, age 70 years 2 mos. 4 days and wife Hannah Patterson, d. 12-15-1870, age 76 years 1 mo. 25 days Rebecca Patterson, b. 9-6-1792, d. 5-15-1857, age 64 years 8 mos. 9 days, dau. of James & Frances Patterson James Patterson, d. 11-9-1838, age 77 years, and wife Frances Patterson, d. 9-16-1822, age 52 years James Owen, d. 10-16-1853, age about 60 years, and wife Mary Owen, d. 4-16-1844, age 42 years Josiah James Owen, d. 4-12-1852, age 8 years 3 mos 4 days, son of James and Mary Owen Julius J Reeves, d. 1-2-1833, age 33 years and wife Margaret Reeves, d. 9-27-1833, age 22 years, 6 mos, and 26 days Sarah Ann Reeves, d. 11-29-1833, age 2 years 6 mos 21 days, dau. of Julius J. and Margaret Reeves M. R. and S.A.R. [these are footstones for two previous graves, which have been stuck in the row of headstones] Margaret King, d. 7-7-1785, wife of Richard King, aged [can't read] [A new combined stone] KING/ Richard 1705-1782 and Margaret Barkley [unknown] - 1785: The family of Richard & Margaret Barkley King Robert, b. 1-15-1736 James, b. 1-6-1737 Elizabeth, b 4-7-1739 Richard, b. 11-3-1740 John, b. 4-11-1743 Margaret, b. 4-7-1746 Mary, b.1747 died in infancy Andrew, b. 10-2-1749 Thomas, b. 9-25-1750 Samuel, b. 8-12-1752 Mary, b. 8-18-1755 [individual stones continued] Samuel King, d. 10-8-1774, age 22 years Richard Blyth, d. 1-6-1780, age 20 years Elizabeth McCorkle, b. 7-18-1770, d. 10-14-1794, "alias Hall" [ means maiden name was Hall] Robert Zenas Ramsay, no date given, age 6 years 9 mos, son of David and Margaret H. Ramsay Infant Ramsey, b. 10-14-1799, d. 11-18-1799, son of Robert and Agness Ramsey Martha Ramsey, d. 11-9-1821, age 24 years, dau. of Robert and Nancy Ramsey Levi M. McCorkle, b. 1-27-1793, d. 6-26-1794 Robert Ramsey, d. 11-7-1828, age 77 years 9 mos. and wife Nancy Ramsey, d. 4-21-1822, age 62 years 2 mos. Alexander McCorkle, d. 12-24-1800, age 78 years, and wife Agness McCorkle, d. 9-5-1789, age 63 years Mary McCorkle, b. 10-4-1781, d. 6-6-1783, dau of Alexander McCorkle John M. McCorkle, d. 8-26-1800, age 50 years and wife Catherine McCorkle, d. 1-6-1822, age 78 years John McCorkle, d 10-12-1813, age 20 years Infant Foster, d. 3-2-1776, and buried next day [perhaps born dead] Joseph Cowan, d. 8-31-1840, age 57 years 6 mos. 10 days Benjamin Cowan, d. 11-24-1838, age 79 years 5 mos. 23 days Ann Cowan, d. 1-13-1810, age about 52 years Susannah Fleming Cowan, d. 4-1800, widow of Henry Cowan, no age given Rebecca Cowan, 2nd "relict of Henry Cowan", d. 4-1816, "she lies on the left" [the word relict means widow/widower, so Henry couldn't possibly have left 2 legal widows!] SHORT ROW L. F. Bradshaw, b. 1-24-1835, d. 9-7-1875 Mary Bradshaw, b. 8-16-1871, d. 4-6-1889, age 17 years 7 mos. 20 days, dau. of L. F. and J. V. Bradshaw Robert L. Bradshaw, b. 10-7-1867, d. 10-27-1889, age 22 years 20 days Frankie Howard Gaither, b. 9-11-1882, d. 11-7-1886, son of Dr. J. B. and Mary E. Gaither. BEGIN LONG ROW Joseph Shepherd Hall, b. 12-27-1856, d. 10-10-1935 Ida E. Correll Hall, b. 11-26-1860, d. 9-11-1932 J. Willie Hall, b. 7-28-1887, d. 11-6-1902, age 15 years 3 mos. 18 days, son of J. S. and I. E. Hall Eric Hall, b. 12-12-1893, d. 1-24-1894, son of J.S. and I.E. Hall Richard H. Hall, b. 7-22-1862, aged 3 years 6 mos. 22 days, son of Major N.F. and M.E. Hall M. Henrietta Hall, d. 9-12-1875, age 9 years 4 mos. 3 days, dau. of Major N.F. and M.E. Hall Infant Hall, born and died 6-15-1886, son of J.S. and I.E. Hall Major N. F. Hall, b. 4-28-1811, d. 3-30-1889 Martha E. Hall, wife of Major N.F. Hall, b. 4-28-1835, d. 4-18-1904 George A. Hall, b. 3-10-1863, d. 12-10-1894 James Lee Miller, b. 2-8-1885, d. 12-6-1887, age 2 years 9 mos. 28 days, son of M. M. and L. J. Miller Monroe M. Miller, b. 8-15-1850, d. 4-19-1902, and wife Linnie J. Miller, b. 12-29-1859, d. 4-4-1892 Caroline Lingle, b. 1-6-1825, d. 6-18-1868 Conrad Lingle, b. 10-1-1791, d. 8-18-1859, age 67 years 10 mos. 17 days, and wife Elizabeth Fisher Lingle, b. 12-11-1790, d. 3-27-1884 Jemima Sloan, d. 10-1840, age 75 years Thomas King, d. 10-16-1812, age 62 years Eliza King, d. 9-3-1820, age 39 years John H. King, d. 11-25-1822, age 3 years 10 mos. John Thompson, d. 3-4-1774, age 74 years; "Also on his right hand lys his son Alexander who deceased" [ remainder of this stone is set beneath bed of concrete, obscuring last line and dates] Daniel Lowrance, b. 8-12-1772, d. 7-21-177[possibly 3, stone is broken], son of Joseph Lowrance Martha Lowrance, wife of Joseph Lowrance, d. 10-22-1775 Stone with inscription weathered off. Martha Lowrance's grave lies on left, and Thomas Miller's lies on the right. Thomas Miller, d. 9-18-1774 John Lowrance, d. 4-23-1781, age 64 years John Barr, d. 11-10-1831, age 82 years Mary Barr, wife of John Barr, d. 4-2-1803, age 48 years Cath. Barr, d. 9-12-1786, age 6 years James Barr, d. 5-22-1788, age 42 years J. Matthew Menius, b. 2-24-1824, d. 8-17-1912 Frederick Menius b. 3-24-1795, d. 3-13-1876, age 80y 11m 19d [and] Elizabeth Menius, his wife, b. 12-16-1802, d. 12-14-1923, aged 84 next row John L. Sloan, b. 8-25-1823, d. 10-25-1901 [and] Selena W. Crowell, wife of John L. Sloan, b. 6-18-1840, d. 7-25-1892 Mary E. Corriher, dau. of G.W. and C.G. Corriher, b. 6-2-1874, d. 9-5-1876, aged 2y 3m 3d M. Victor Freeze, d. 11-13-1886, aged 28 y Bessie J. Albright, dau. of J.H. and M.J. Albright, b. 6-12-1886, d. 10-11-1886, aged 3m 30d Margaret J. Albright, wife of John H. Albright, b. 2-28-1860, d. 9-6-1886, aged 26y 6m 8d Peter Albright, b. 9-18-1829, d. 4-26-1892 Effie Miller, dau. of C.C. and Maggie Miller, b. 7-28-1888, d. 3-1-1899 Fannie J. Miller, b. 2-11-1877, d. 3-15-1890, aged 13y 1m 4d Joshua Miller, b. 10-26-1824, d. 1-12-1877, aged 52y 2m 15d [and] Sarah C. Miller, his wife, b. 10-26-1839, d. 6-11-1920 Martha Jane R. Miller, dau. J. and M.D. Miller, b. 10-30-1855, d. 2-5-1860, aged 4y 3m 5d William C. Baker, son of Henry & Martha E. Baker, b. 1-25-1853, d. 2-19-1857 Mary Ann I. Miller. 1-17-1851, d. 11-22-1854, dau. of J. and M.D. Miller, aged 3y 10m 5d Jane E. Lowrance, b. 11-11-1811, d. 12-6-1864, aged 52y 11m 5d Alex. Lowrance, d. 10-10-1868, age 90y 2m 15d [and] Jane Lowrance his wife, b. 10-25-1776, d. 5-12-1855, aged 78y 6m 17d Ann Hartt, wife of William Hartt, d. 9-7-1784, age 60y Samuel Hartt, d. 9-12-1782, aged 30 Joseph Hart, d. 11-30-1773, aged 23y John Hart, d. 9-17-1780, aged 20y Jane Hyde, wife of Joseph T. Hyde, d. 11-4-1849, aged 39y Martha J. Hyde, dau. of J.T. & J. Hyde, d. 1-30-1846, aged 1m Joseph T. Hyde, d. 6-10-1845, aged 40y 2m 20d Polly Menerva Hyde, d. 11-8-1832, aged 17y 4m 24d Margaret Hyde wife of John H. Hyde, d. 9-11-1850, aged 67y 7m 20d John H. Hyde, d. 10-25-1839, aged 64y 4m 7d Lydia Hyde wife of James Hyde, d. 11-20-1849, aged 70y 10m 17d Jean Carson, d. 11-9-1777, aged 66y Mary Carson, d. 12-12-1767, aged 26y next row M. Katie Sloan, d. 5-15-1897, aged 32y, wife of W. J. Sloan Infant son of I.C. and M.J. Griffin, b. 2-2-1904, d. 2-9-1904 Junius S. Sloan, b. 6-29-1863, d. 5-23-1890, aged 26y 10m 24d James Crider Sloan, son of Samuel A. & Sarah J. Sloan, b. 2-14-1869, d. 11-24-1876 Samuel A. Sloan, b. 12-17-1836, d. 2-27-1886, aged 49y 2m 10d [and] Sarah J. Sloan, his wife, b. 1-17-1839, d. 4-15-1897, aged 58y 2m 28d Nannie E. McCubbins, wife of J.A. McCubbins, b. 4-12-1867, d. 4-4-1910 John Absolom McCubbins, b. 9-6-1852, d. 5-14-1923, aged 71y 8m 8d [and] 1st wife Bettie L. McCubbins, b.. 9-14-1859, d. 4-25-1907 Wilson Lingle, b. 5-20-1831, d. 5-1-1886, aged 54y 11m 11d [and] Martha Jane Lingle, his wife, b. 11-29-1832, d. 6-22-1906 M. Bina Patterson, b. 10-22-1860, d. 5-10-1907, wife of J.L. Patterson Margaret C. Parker b. 12-9-1826; d. 12-9-1900, aged 74y Mary E. Dancey, b. 11-2-1813, d. 7-12-1890 Rebecca C. Parker, b. 9-28-1822, d. 10-6-1867 Margaret A. Dancey, b. 9-27-1839, d. 7-9-1864 Alpheus L. Dancey, b. 4-23-1843, d. 9-24-1862 Margaret Parker, b. 10-3-1788, d. 4-25-1861 Sarah J. Parker, b. 7-20-1832, d. 5-10-1859 James B. Parker, b. 9-28-1824, d. 3-24-1895 Martha C. Parker, wife of Jas. B. Parker, b. 1-6-1837, d. 4-27-1871 Joel McCorkle, Esq., d. 6-3-1818, age 44th year [and] wife Mary J. McCorkle, d. 10-26-1848, aged 70y 6m 15d William Bowman, d. 3-11-1795, aged 67y Mary McNeely, d. 1-26-1796, aged 32y Isaac McNeely, d. 12-12-1774, aged 21y James Hughes, d. 5-8-1775, 7y [and] Mary Hughes d. 5-8-1775, 12y Mary Barr, d. 10-6-1778, 20y Henry Bakley, d. 2-5-1776, 17y James Hyde, d. 1-18-1844, 59y 5m 12d Joseph Kerr, b. 1762, d. 3-24-1829, 67y John Bell, d. 2-11-1772, 19y Andrew Morison, d. 2-6-1770, 52y next row Stephen C. Russell, b. 6-6-1863, d. 11-21-1903 James M.A. Menius, b. 2-24-1860, d. 11-25-1925, aged 65y 9m 1d [and] Martha M. Menius, his wife, b. 10-23-1860, d. 11-7-1936, aged 76y, 14d L. Gilmer Menius, son of J.M.A. and M.M. Menius, b. 10-25-1886, d. 7-29-1887, 9m 4d John H. Lippard, b. 8-20-1894 [death blank] [and] Edith Menius Lippard, b. 5-10-1901, d. 4-26-1970 Walter Allen Erwin, b. 5-6-1875, d. 6-18-1953 [and] his wife Ella Pharr Harrison Erwin, b. 1-26-1885, d. 12-22-1936 James T. Erwin, son of W.A. and E.P.H. Erwin, b. & d. 2-15-1906 Hattie J. Erwin, dau. of J.M. and V.C. Erwin, b. 3-4-1881, d. 4-5-1883, 2y 1m 1d James M. Erwin, b. 11-26-1826, d. 11-7-1887, 60y 11m 12d Virginia C. Dorton Erwin, b. 9-1-1850, d. 11-26-1928 John Cooper, b. 3-17-1795, d. 8-28-1866, erected by John F. Cooper in memory of his father. Matthew L. Cowan, son of A.A. & M.A. Cowan, b. 10-2-1855, d. 8-22-1857 Robert Harris, d. 1-7-1877, 53y 2m Charlotte Harris, b. 8-29-1867, d. 3-18-1884, 16y 7m 19d Margaret Maria Cowan, dau. of R.H. & Margaret Cowan, d. 11-7-1855, 1y 6m 16d Charles Hezekiah Cowan, d. 8-9-1844, 17y 7m 2d Jane Cowan, wife of John Cowan, d. 12-13-1843, 81y 9m 4d John Cowan, d. 5-4-1827, in his 70th year Mary Cowan, wife of Thomas Cowan, Esq., b. 10-4-1755, d. 8-5-1836, 80y 10m Thomas Cowan, d. 12-4-1817, in his 70th year Hezekiah Cowan, d. 3-18-1824, aged 27y 11m 21d Abel Cowan, d. 1-30-1843, 53y 3m 27d George McConnaughey, b. 9-22-1794, d. 9-29-1843, 49y 7d [and] Anne E. McConnaughey, his wife b. 5-23-1809, d. 12-14-1842, 33y 6m 22d William Albert Cowan, d. 5-9-1844, 2y 3m 24d Josephine A. McConnaughey, b. 6-12-1837, d. 11-25-1837, 5m 6d George S.P. McConnaughey,. 8-4-1832, d. 2-18-1833, 6m 14d Mrs. Lucretia Cowan, d. 6-15-1819, 26y Mrs. Esther Brandon, b. 12-17-1755, d. 1-22-1822 Thomas Gillespie, d. 12-12-1797, 78y Naomi Gillespie, wife of Thomas Gillespie, d. 12-12-1797, 69y Jacob Gillespie, d. 8-31-1776, 19y Lydia Gillespie, d. 8-24-1802, 16y Gillespie [infant] b. 1-7-1772, d. 1-9-1772 Elizabeth Maxwell Steel 1733-1791 Immortal Patriotism, By this gift she being dead yet speaketh. Salisbury - Feb. 1, 1781. To Nathaniel Greene in the darkest hour of his career, she gave 2 bags of gold and silver saying: "Take these, General, you need them & I can do without them." This, that this woman hath done, shall always be told as a memorial of her. Oct. 7, 1948. Erected by the E.M.S. Chapter DAR, Salisbury, N.C., descendants & other patriotic citizens. For an abstract of the lengthy obituary of Mrs. Elizabeth Maxwell Steele, whose grave is marked by the DAR obelisk, above, see State Records, Newspapers, North Carolina, page 17 of "The Carolina Genealogist." Is Robert Gillespie who lies buried between Elizabeth and William Steel, her second husband, her first husband? He died in the year of the Cherokee uprising! Robert Gillespie, d. 3-21-1760, 36y William Steel, d. 11-5-1777,39y Rev. Samuel Eusebius McCorkle, D.D., b. 8-23-1746, d. 1-21-1811, licensed to preach 10-15-1775, Ordained 8-2-1777, a Patriot. Mary Hughey, d. 12-14-1781, 60y John Kerr, d. 9-16-1774, 35y John Kerr, d. 5-20-1772, 24y [and] Elizabeth Kerr, d. 12-20-1776 Margaret Young, d. 10-21-1777, 40y Mary Y. wife of Dr. John Allison, and dau. Joseph & Mary Kerr, b. 12-10-1805, d. 2-21-1844, 39y. Infant of Dr. John & M.Y. Allison interred in the same grave with its mother. Mary Kerr, wife of Joseph Kerr, b. 9-1764, d. 8-24-1839, 75y Joseph Andrew Kerr, son of John & Catharine R. Kerr, b. Augusta, Georgia 12-17-1824, d. in this county [Rowan Co. N.C.] 10-6-1856 Orlean Graham, d. 4-13-1781, 26th year. [signed P. Gillespie] T.C.C. [can't read] David Foster, d. 5-21-1828, 82nd year [new stone] Margaret E., wife of J.K. Burke, dau. of Joseph & Rebecca Cowan, b. 12-1-1832, d. 1-24-1867. Beneath our feet and o'er our head is equal warning given. Beneath us lie the countless dead, - their spirits gone to Heaven. Rebecca Cowan, b. 10-8-1768, d. 2-22-1842, 73y 4m 14d Joseph Cowan, b. 11-29-1801, d. 3-14-1847, 45y 3m 15d David Cowan, b. 3-1-1776, d. 10-19-1836, 67y 7m 18d Rebecca, wife of Joseph Cowan, b. 4-13-1800, d. 12-1-1855, 55y 7m 18d Mary Cowan, b. 5-6-1804, d. 3-12-1890, 85y 10m 6d, Our Aunt In memory of [tombstone is either blank, or engraving is now gone - an old stone] next row Margaret, wife of Richard T. Cowan, d. 2-17-1855, 24y 1m 16d Alexander Work Brandon, d. 12-26-1854, 63y soldier of War of 1812, bequests to Thyatira Church and Davidson College. Dr. Samuel Kerr, b. Rowan Co. N.C. 12-20-1799, d. 7-11-1865 next row Ella I, dau. of J.K. & M.J. Graham, b. 5-27-1868, d. 9-18-1930, died and buried in Korea where she had been a missionary 23 years. William A. Graham, b. 3-29-1865, d. 12-11-1916 Mary Jane, wife of John Knox Graham, d. 1-21-1903, 72y 2m 20d giant Crape Myrtle tree John K. Graham, a ruling Elder of Thyatira Church for 41 years, b. 9-15-1820, d. 11-30-1895 Ida J., dau. of John K. & Mary J. Graham, b. 9-23-1854, d. 7-4-1894 Mary D. Luella, infant dau. John K. & M.J. Graham, b. 9-29-1856, d. 9-10-1857 Lizzie Z. Graham, dau. of J.K. & M.J. Graham, b. 9-27-1858, d. 11-3-1883 [new] gap John F. Locke, d. 10-16-1849, 25y Ella C. Robinson, b. 2-26-1821, d. 6-27-1886, 65y 4m 1d Major John Locke, d. 4-21-1833, 82y 8m 9d, an officer in the Revolution [and] Elizabeth [Locke] his first wife "who lies on the left of this marble." Polly Locke, wife of John Locke, d. 10-26-1832, 30y 5m 16d Ann Rodgers, wife of Joseph Rodgers, d. 10-1-1836, 5?y, 2m 2d [dates badly eroded] Sarah O. Graham, wife of [can't read] Graham, b. 10-10-?, d. [can't read] Mary Isabell Graham, b. 6-1834, d. 7-27-1839 Mary Houston, wife of John Houston, dau. of Fergus Graham, d. 10-19-1835, 50y 9m 6d Samuel Graham, d. 6-25-1831 Fergus Graham, d. 4-9-1822, 68y 21d Mary Graham, wife of Fergus Graham, d. 6-22-1803, 51y 7m 8d [and] Elenor Graham, d. 9-28-1837, 79?y, 11m, 18d Elizabeth Graham, d. 6-26-1854, 66y 6m 26d Fergus Graham, d. 6-28-1854, 64y, 23d James Graham, d. 8-9-1856, 62y 9m 15d Lucretia B., dau. of Frederick K. & Sarah Dinkens, b. 10-3-1819, d. 7-2-1833, 13y 9m Sarah Anne Scott, d. 8-29-1836, 11y 1m 4d Alexander Cathey, d. 4-7-1766, 59y Nancy Robison, d. 2-15-1832, 32y 11m 3d Hugh Robison, d. 2-24-1801, 42nd year G.R. [no other marking] Isabell Robison, d. 8-16-1757, 28y George Robison, d. 12-19-1785, 59th year John Nisbet, d. 11-1755, 50y [and] Sarah, his wife, d. 10-1764 James Nisbet, d. 1-1763 Ann S. Cowan, b. 5-10-1791, d. 3-6-1856, 64y 9m 26d David Cowan, b. 9-23-1812, d. 11-10-1854, 41y 1m 11d [broken] Isaac Cowan, b. 4-2-1775, d. 10-12-1853, 78y 7m 10d Mary Cowan, b. 6-25-1787, d. 1-19-1852, 64y 6m 24d William Cowan, d. 12-29-1838, 70y John Luckie, d. 10-25-1773, 85y [and] Joseph Luckie, d. 4-22-[remainder of date below concrete foundation where this stone has been reset] next row James L. Litaker, b. 12-4-1879, d. 3-9-1898 Lydia A. Lowrance, b. 6-30-1814, d. 2-7-1894, 79y 7m 27d F.N. Luckey, b. 8-12-1823, d. 8-8-1878, 54y 11m 26d. gap John P. Silliman, b. 1-17-1818, d. 7-16-1891, 73y 5m 29d Mary A., wife of J.P. Silliman, b. 10-4-1834, d. 9-21-1894 Samuel L., son of J.P. & M.A. Silliman, b. 12-23-1864, d. 9-28-1873 John Lynch, native of Rockingham County, d. 3-1882, aged about 80y [stone mended] R.H. Bratcher, b. 9-23-1850, d. 11-20-1880 William Brandon, d. 2-11-1837, 39y 8m 11d William A., son of R.A. & E. Brandon, b. 4-18-1854, d. 2-10-1856 Jane, wife of John H. Brandon, d. 5-20-1839, 54y Matthew Brandon, d. 9-9-1819 [and] Jane Brandon, his wife, d. 2-21-1819, 63y Col. Francis Locke, N.C. Mil, Rev. War [government marker] [also has obelisk marker:] Francis Locke, Esq., Judge Superior Court of Law & Court of Equity of N.C., 10 yrs Judge, b. Rowan Co. 10-31-1766, appointed Judge 12-1803; resigned appointment 2-1813, d. 1-20-1823, aged 56y 3m next two stones are granite, badly eroded, can't read their inscriptions Mary A., eldest dau. of William & Eliza Miller, b. 11-18-1830, d. 8-19-1857 Joseph C. Miller, b. 2-5-1839, d. 11-14-1841 Alexander Scott, d. 4-2-1822, 1y 4m 10d, son of Dr. John & Eliza Scott [new stone] Mrs. Eliza Scott, b. 9-24-1798, d. 12-28-1825, 27y 5m 4d Moses Alexander Locke, only son & his father William Locke, b. 11-17-1756, d. 1-10-1785, also James Locke his uncle, b. 3-14-1773, d. 8-13-1815, erected 9 May AD 1820 Matthew Locke, Esq. d. 9-7-1801, 71, Legislator, parent [and] Mary Lock, his wife, d. 7-31-1790, 55y, mother Martha Lock d. 8-6-1767, 24y George Lock, d. 12-18-1776, 4y Matthew Locke, d. 1-5-1807, 35y 7m John Brandon, d. 5-15-1756, 65y [and] Elizabeth Lock, d. 8-10-1760, 55y, late wife of John Brandon William Brandon, d. 1756, 30y [and] Mary Armstrong [d. 1770 says earlier cem. survey; the bottom of this stone, including her date is now set in concrete] Elizabeth Brandon, b. 9-1734, m. 4-1754, had 6 sons 3 daus, d. 6-18-1783, 49y James Brandon, son of James Brandon d. 4-1781, 18y next row John Graham, d. 10-12-1835, 13y 10m Sarah Smith, wife of John Smith, d. 8-8-1824, 70y George Smith, b. 2-20-1784, d. 12-6-1843 [also] Margaret Smith, b. 2-15-1785, d.[7-9-1844 from earlier survey; remainder of this stone now set in concrete] William Patton Brandon, b. 12-7-1815, d. 4-30-1816, 4m 23d Christian Haggens, d. 10-19-1821, 76y John Hagen b. 1722, d. 3-6-1816, 94y Jean Hagen, d. 12-29-1776, 63y John Brandon, d. 4-27-1775, 62y John Smith [can't read remainder, eroded] John Lock, d. 4-15-1764, 36y James Graham, d. 2-1-1758, 8y [also] James Armstrong, d. 7-13-1766, 30y Capt. William Armstrong who died in ye bed of Hon- in defence of his conil[?] 6-21-1781, 41y [inscription is in poor condition, may be errors] John Graham, d. 12-28-1773, 70y Margaret Graham, d. 5-12-1776, 55y next row Ada M., wife of G.A. Steele, b. 11-6-1873, d. 5-12-1904 Pattie Lou, dau. of J.W. & M.L. Page, b. 3-2-1892, d. 9-4-1892 Rachel E., dau. of James & Mary M. Scott, d. 9-15-1874, 9y 10m 28d Thomas Todd, b. 9-6-1793, d. 7-23-1869, 75y 10m 17d John C. Gillespie, d. 1-18-1872, 56y John C. Gillespie, d. 4-25-1882, 30y 6m 25d William L., son of J.C. & H. Gillespie, d. 10-23-1864, 3y 8m 5d unmarked stone Lelia J., dau. of J.C. & H. Gillespie, d. 11-6-1864, 7y 5m 5d Richard Gillespie, d. 3-10-1863, 18y 3m 6d Sarah P. Donnell, b. 4-1-1814, d. 1-21-1857, 42y 7m 20d Jane Alice, dau. of T.T. & Margaret A. Locke, d. 9-4-1854, 8m 14d Richard Locke, son of T.T. & Margaret Locke, d. 11-7-1853, 1y 6m Allmand Hall, d. 2-4-1831, 59y, a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, husband & father. Matthew Troy, son of Matthew & Ann Troy, b. 2-14-1773, "died April 7th following" [1773] Eliza[?] A. Gibson, d. 7-4-1837[?], 20y Sissela Gibson, d. 8-10-1777, 57y John Gibson, d. 8-9-1777, 32y Mrs. Ann Locke [b. 7-20-1764, d. 12-8-1811 on earler survey; stone eroded and can't read now] three graves marked with skull & crossbones and crossbones only marking where the three Pirates were buried. No names on stone. According to legend, the pirates were executed, and court allowed their burial only if their stones carried the pirate symbol, and bore no names. Robert Graham [and James Armstrong] Eleanor Graham, d. 6-14-1782, 37y Richard Graham, d. 2-13-1770, 63y Richard S. Gillespie, d. 4-7-1825, 9y Mary Armstrong "DeP 1776" Jane Gillespie, d. 11-25-1823, 46y Anazaline Gillespie, d. 1-4-1830, 4th year [new stone] Richard Gillespie, d. 12-8-1830, 64th year William L. Mitchell Gillespie, d. 1-4-1833, 9th year Agness Gillespie, consort of Richd. Gillespie, d. 1-24-1837, 52nd year. James C. Gillespie d. 8-3-1845, 31y Harriet P. Gillespie, consort of Thomas C. Gillespie, d. 11-10-1845 Nancy Short, d. 10-19-1788, 6y Ann Thompson, d. 10-17-1821, 61y This marble was erected at the expence of Ths. Todd, alone, son of sd. Decd. as a token of gratitude from a child to a parent. gap Simeon Carson, d. 10-15-1851, 5y 3m 29d James Carson, d. 2-2-1845, 2y 6m 27d next row E.R.S.A., wife of C.M. Erwin, b. 11-13-1832, d. 1-9-1896, Mother C.M. Erwin, b. 4-1-1820, d. 4-27-1892, Father [and] Cora E. Erwin, b. 6-5-1866, d. 5-1-1890, 23y 11m 25d, Sister Matthew A. Locke, b. 5-12-1819, d. 8-25-1872, 53y 2m 13d [new stone] Melissa A. Locke, b. 12-29-1825, d. 10-22-1872, 46y 9m 23d, wife of M.A. Locke gap James Silliman, d. 9-18-1848, 63y 5m 25d Margaret E., dau. of James & Elizabeth Silliman, d. 10-30-1845, 25y 27d Mary G. Lowrance, b. 2-21-1807, d. 5-27-1873 Mary Donnell, d. 3-4-1854, consort of the late Wm. Donnell, of Rockingham Co., N.C., 67y Thomas Kincaid, d. 6-23-1856, 53y 2m Clarisa H., wife of Thomas Kincaid, b. 8-31-1853, about 60y Sophia G., dau. of James Brandon, a Colonel in the War of 1776, d. 12-31-1846, 54y. Maj. Jas. Brandon, N.C. Mil., Rev. War [government marker] Richard Brandon, d. 2-21-1786 [and] Margaret Brandon d. 10-27-1790 Eliza G. Gibson, wife of J.B. Gibson, d. 5-29-1845, 25y 2m 4d gap Thomas Gillespie, d. 10-11-1837, 72y Ann McKay, d. 10-26-1809, 67y [and] Flora Gillespie, d. 11-4-1821, 53y next row W.A. Houck, b. 2-26-1826, d. 3-27-1901, 75y 1m 1d [and] Catharine L. Houck, b. 11-1-1833, d. 2-26-1929 Margaret Julia Houck, dau. of W.A. & C.L., b. 2-27-1864, d. 4-14-1951 [new stone] Silas A. McNeely, b. 5-23-1833, d. 4-8-1888, 54y 10m 15d [new stone] Louisa Shinn, wife of Silas McNeely, b. 5-3-1836, d. 1-10-1915, 78y 9m 7d gap Henry McHenry, d. 1-6-1771, 46y John Biggs, d. 4-7-1763, 64y, born County Antrim, Ireland, issue only one daughter named Honnour wife of James Carson [slate stone] [slate stone with most of inscription split off: wife of this life Oc ye 4th 1774 A year "Memento mori" [small slate stone, no other inscription] Margaret C., dau. of J.C. & H. Gillespie, d. 10-21-1864, 5y 8m 1d Jane S. Gillespie, wife of John Gillespie, d. 9-1-1815, 19y 9m 24d Flora Gillespie, d. 1-2-1844, 53y George Brandon d. 12-14-1773, 70y [broken stone only part found] Samuel Hille deceased 8 Aged 75 [base of stone only] Rebecca E., wife of T.L. White, b. 10-23-1854, d. 10-24-1899, 45y 1d James Graham, b. 3-11-1806, d. 11-5-1868 T.L. White, b. 2-25-1861, d. 3-4-1880 [This stone is marble, broken in two pieces and lying face up on ground with grass growing over it. Needs to be repaired and reerected if it is to survive.] M.E., wife of James Graham, b. 3-4-1819, d. 6-2-1874 [marble stone, broken, lying face up on ground; needs to be repaired and reerected] Catherine Andrews, wife of John Andrews, d. 11-1-1832, 51y R.T.W., d. 1842 [small stone with inscription badly eroded, may have error] two unmarked stones -next few stones could be "footstones" which have been erected away from the grave to which they belonged, OR might just be small, mostly unmarked headstones. A.H. unmarked T.K. S.G.B. M.S.T., aged 54y 2m 12d S.S. unmarked Mary[?] [can't read remainder, if any, of inscription] E.M. two unmarked E.G.G. "FootStone" unmarked S.A.S. unmarked M.L. L.B.D. two unmarked J.S. A.L. 6 unmarked A. McK. 1809 F.G. 1821 "Time how short- Eternity how long." three unmarked next row James M. Hyde, d. 10-10-1865, 35y 6m 10d Benj. M. Hyde, d. 11-6-1865, 50y 7m 5d Mary C., dau. of G.W. & M.E. Rex, b. 3-14-1869, d. 9-7-1870 Mary E., wife of G.W. Rex, b. 6-7-1831, d. 2-28-1873 [one stone] George Houck, Margaret Houck, Mary C. Houck, Francis L. Houck stone broken, inscription gone Richard Locke, d. 11-28-1849, 50y 2m two unmarked Sallie J., dau. of C.J. & H.J. Lipe, b. 3-29-1867, d. 8-22-1868 John Andrews, Esqr. b. 8-12-1771, married to Catharine Bell 5-26-1807, d. 4-11-1830 unmarked L.J.G. M.J.L E.G. This stone is broken, and lying out of position by the graveyard's stone wall: Alexander Scott, son Dr. John and Eliza Scott, who d. 4-2-1822, 1y 4m 10d Looking over the east stone wall of this old portion of the cemetery at least one concrete slab containing the base of a marble headstone was seen. There may be other stones or portions outside the wall in the dense woods, for rock rubble is visable outside the wall, August 1972. This completes the transcriptions of those graves lying in the Thyatira Cemetery to the northward of a line drawn from east to west wall through giant Crape Myrtle trees. Within this boundary appear to be all of the earliest burials. The rows were continued southward from the trees to a loop driveway and burials were also made on the east side of the drive. The more modern graves, marked and well kept, have not been copied in the region south of the Crape Myrtle trees. MBW Early History Thyatira is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches west of the Yadkin River, if not the very oldest. It is located in Rowan County, ten miles west of Salisbury on Highway 150 in the Millbridge community. The deed for the land on which the church and cemetery are located was made Jan. 17, 1753, and is registered in the court house at Salisbury. A duplicate was made on Jan. 18, 1753/ the original of which is to be seen in the vestibule of the church, and begins as follows: "This Indenture, made the Eighteenth day of January in ye year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Fifty Three, between Jno. Lynn of ye County of Anson in the Province of North Carolina, of the one part, And the Congregation Known by Ye Congregation belonging to Ye Lower Meeting house between ye yatkin river & the Cutabo River, adhering to a Minister Licensed From or by a Presbytery belonging to & the old synod of Philadelphia...." At the time this deed was drawn Rowan County was still part of Anson County. The separation took place Mar. 27, 1753 when Rowan was formed from Anson. As the deed indicates there was a Presbyterian congregation in this community prior to the making of the deed. Its first name was "Lower Meeting House" which was changed by December 1755 to "Cathey's Meeting House." The word "church" was reserved for use of the Anglican (Episcopal) Church prior to the Revolutionary War. Early Ministers The deed notes that the congregation had a licensed minister in 1753, but his identity is unknown. Rev. John Thompson preached in the area as early as 1751, and Rev. Hugh McAden's diary tell that he visited Cathy's Meeting House the last Sabbath of December 1755. The church was evidently served by itinerant ministers until Aug. 2, 1777, when Rev. Samuel Eusebius McCorkle, a son of the church, was ordained and installed as pastor. Dr. McCorkle became famous for his Zion-Parnassus classical school which was located about a mile from Thyatira Church and for helping to found the University of North Carolina. Church Division During the latter part of Dr. McCorkle's pastorate there occurred a split of the Thyatira Congregation. A revival swept the area, with people shouting, dancing, barking like dogs, swooning and having the "jerks." The congregation was divided on whether or not this was a true manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Dr. McCorkle believed that it was not. Feelings were so intense that the "revivalists" consisting of about 20 families, and five elders, separated themselves and organized the Back Creek Presbyterian Church on Sept. 6, 1805. In later years both churches used the same minister, and only in 1946 did they become independent and self-supporting churches. The Buildings There have been four houses of worship at Thyatira. The first, a log building, was located above and west of the old part of the cemetery. Nothing is known about the second. Dr. Samuel C. Alexander's statement about the Centennial of the church states "The old frame church was very large, with galleries around three sides. The pulpit was away above the people, reached by winding stairs, with an ornamented sounding board suspended about the minister's head." This was the third church. The present brick sanctuary was completed in 1860, and was renovated in 1864. The Cemetery For the convenience of visitors certain graves have been marked with numbered white stakes, beginning with the oldest known graves: 1. John Nisbet, died 11-19-1755, aged 50 2. John Brandon, died 5-15-1756, aged 65 3. William Brandon, died 1756, aged 30 4. James Graham, died 2-1-1758, aged 88 5. John Knox and Jean Gracy Knox who died 1758 and 1772. Memorial stone tells us that seven of their sons were soldiers in the American Revolution, and that they were great grandparents of James Knox Polk, President of the United States. 6. Thomas and Naomi Gillespie, also ancestors of President Polk; an obituary of Naomi reports "Died at 2 p.m. on Tuesday the 15th of December 1796, Mrs. Naomi Gillespie, aged 69; at 10 o'clock the same evening Mr. Thomas Gillespie, aged 76. They were the first settlers in Rowan County on the west side of the Yadkin River, and lived in the strictest bond of matrimonial friendship for a space of 51 years. Their descendants amount to 63, of whom six sons carried them to their place of interment, where they were deposited in the same coffin." 7. Captain William Armstrong was mortally wounded in the Battle of Ramseur's Mill during the Revolution, and died the same day, June 21, 1780, aged 41. 8. Captain Thomas Cowan, who was in the Battle of King's Mountain, Cowpens and Ramseur's Mill, was an elder of the church, died December 4, 1817. 9. Hon. Matthew Locke, member of the Provincial Congress on three separate occasions, and member of U.S. Congress 1793-99, died September 7, 1801, aged 71. 10. Three PIRATE stones. Tradition tells of three pirates who escaped on the coast and made their way inland, settling in Rowan County where they became farmers. They were later recognized, convicted and executed and their burial in the cemetery was permitted only if the skull and crossbones, or just the crossbones were used on their gravestones. The foregoing is taken from the descriptive pamphlet available at the church.